The Crow’s Nest Newsletter for Lake Conway Estates

September – November 2019 + Christmas Holiday Insert

Lake Conway Estates

Residents’ Association

P.O. Box 593242; Orlando, FL 32859-3242

Website: www.LakeConwayEstates.com

Contact Council members at:

lceramembership@gmail.com

Or Use membership directory for

Individual contact information

Executive Council President: Bob Buzzetti

Vice President: Ken Balboni

Treasurer: David Sherard

Secretary: Bill Parker

Committee Chairman Membership: Barbie Snavely

lceramembership@gmail.com

Web Site: Rogan Marketing and

Communications

roganmarketing.com

Property Mgr. Bob Buzzetti

Street Captains: Anita Sacco _______________________

LCERA membership dues are $150 per

year. The fiscal year begins September 1

and ends August 31 of the following year.

A $25 discount is available to Lake Conway

Estates residents who remit dues PRIOR TO

OR AT the annual meeting every September.

Keys are dispensed by Barbie Snavely.

Payment may be made by check remitted

to the P.O. Box listed above or by Pay Pal

at www.LakeConwayEstates.com

_________________ The Crow’s Nest Publisher: Lake Conway Estates Residents’ Association

Editor: Anita Sacco

LCETheCrowsNest@aol.com Publication

Committee: Barbie Snavely,

Focusing Beyond Our Boundaries: Will Growth Influence Our Quality of Life?

The cover page of this newsletter has always been utilized to report on and advise the

residents of Lake Conway Estates about meetings, news, and events within our subdivision.

This is one instance, however, where we need to be aware of what is transpiring outside our

immediate community and beyond the eastern border of Belle Isle.

In the Sunday, October 6, 2019 issue of The Orlando Sentinel, the “Growth Spotter”

column in the Business Section covered the potential development of 24 acres on Hoffner

Avenue for 348 apartment units with parking for 654 vehicles, including 46 detached garage

spaces. The 24 acres consist of five parcels in the 5000 block of Hoffner, according to the

article by Laura Kinsler and Mike Salinero. Proposed are 162 one-bedroom apartments, 156

two-bedroom units, and 30 three-bedroom floor plans.

The reporters noted that Shenandoah Elementary [already overcrowded] is within

walking distance of the proposed apartments. They also stated that the properties are primarily

zoned for office, light industrial, and multi-family residential uses. Although presently in

unincorporated Orange County, the developer is seeking to annex the 24 acres into Orlando.

Twelve days later, on Friday, October 18, there was a legal notice in the Sentinel

regarding a zoning change that would allow 38 town homes proposed for construction on 3.90

acres next to the proposed 24 acres for 348 apartments.

So what is the point of this preamble? In a word, TRAFFIC! To be sure, there are

other issues as well: school overcrowding; ecological issues; increased crime in a densely

populated area that can spill over into Belle Isle; overuse of the Conway lakes by increasing

numbers of people.

In LCE, our only avenue of ingress and egress to our subdivision is Hoffner Avenue,

whether from the east or west; there is no north/south option. There are no alternate routes.

Those of us frustrated by the crawling, backed-up lines of traffic that we experience presently

every week day---most especially during “rush hours” ---can only expect traffic to get even

worse. Getting into and out of our subdivision will become more and more of a challenge and

not for the faint of heart.

On Tuesday, November 19 at 8:30 in the morning, the Municipal Planning Board of

Orlando met and allowed citizen comment about this proposed project. It was covered in the

Local & State section of the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday, November 21. In the article by

reporter Ryan Gillespie, it was stated in the sub-headline, “Luxury rental proposal heads to

[Orlando] City Council despite concerns involving traffic, schools and bald eagles.”

Belle Isle City Manager, Bob Francis, attended the meeting and expressed concern

about the increased traffic that would be pouring through Belle Isle. He requested that Belle

Isle be included in any traffic study the developer would commission. The November 21 news

article noted the view of OMPB Chairman, Jonathan Huels, who indicated the issues facing the

neighborhood weren’t caused by the apartment project and stating that more housing is needed

given Orlando’s growth. Curious! Where does Orange County stand on this entire matter?

Affordable housing and attendant transient population has not been mentioned thus

far in print, but the noted “luxury” apartment rentals seem incongruous in an area directly in

the flight path for Orlando International Airport.

The matter now moves on to the Orlando City Council for approval of the Planning

Board’s opinion, and then to two public hearings about whether to annex the 24-acre site. Do

you think Orlando really cares about our traffic problem? Anita Sacco, Editor

Page 2 The Crow’s Nest September - November 2019

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

December 3 Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Belle Isle City Council – Belle Isle City Hall (Open to the public) *

7 Saturday NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY (Half Staff)

8:00 a.m. Leave Luminaria order & payment at front door for delivery by Boy Scouts 11 Wednesday 4:00 p.m... City of Belle Isle “Light the Way” To 8:00 p.m. With Santa, Bake-off, and activities for all ages – Belle Isle City Hall

12 Thursday 7:00 p.m. LCERA Executive Council meeting – Snavely Residence* 13 Friday 8:00 p.m. Christmas Boat Parade – SOUTH LAKE

14 Saturday 8:00 a.m. Leave Luminaria order & payment at front door for delivery by Boy Scouts 7:30 p.m. Christmas Boat Parade – MIDDLE LAKE 15 Sunday 7:00 p.m. Christmas Boat Parade – NORTH LAKE 17 Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Belle Isle City Council – Belle Isle City Hall (Open to the public) * 18 Wednesday Santa’s Ride through Belle Isle – WEST SIDE OF CITY Sand for Luminaria delivered to LCERA lake lot – Bring bucket and shovel

19 Thursday Santa’s Ride through Belle Isle – EAST SIDE OF CITY 21 Saturday 8:00 a.m. Leave Luminaria order & payment at front door for delivery by Boy Scouts Winter Solstice – shortest day, longest night of the year

First Day of Winter 22 Sunday Sundown HANUKKAH Begins

23 to Jan 3, 2020 Two weeks Orange County Public Schools Closed for WINTER BREAK 24 Tuesday 5:30 p.m. CHRISTMAS EVE – Light luminarias at dusk/ Extinguish at 10:00 p.m

25 Wednesday 5:30 p.m. CHRISTMAS DAY – Light luminarias at dusk/ Extinguish Thurs. a.m.

31 Tuesday NEW YEAR’S EVE

January 2020

1 Wednesday NEW YEAR’S DAY

6 Monday Orange County Public Schools – STUDENT HOLIDAY

* Meeting time and date is subject to change.

Fly the American flag

The Crow’s Nest September - November, 2019 Page 3

Membership Musings by Barbie Snavely, Membership Chairman Phone: 407-859-6890

Many residents in Lake Conway Estates took advantage of the opportunity to receive a discount

for payment of LCERA annual dues by remitting before our annual meeting in September. Additionally,

however, we have had a steady increase of Association members since the annual meeting, and the

number of member households in our subdivision is now up to 217.

We are pleased to welcome these new-resident members to the Lake Conway Estates Residents’

Association. For those members utilizing an LCERA Directory, please update it with this information:

Nate Davenport Christopher Morton & Chanelle Huff Will Stearns 3433 Cullen Lake Shore 3500 Cullen Lake Shore 4908 Darden Avenue

Ron & Andrea Martone Don & Dianne Moore Christian & Jaclyn Carillo 5111 Darden Avenue 5010 Gramont Avenue 5018 Monet Avenue

Marcus Thomas Milica Ali Mabel & Angie Jadovitz-Reyes 5024 Monet Avenue 5102 Mortier Avenue 5103 St. Germain Avenue

Matt Morningstar Jeff & Brendan Shutts Joe & Ally Reynolds Bryce Pierson 5002 St. Marie Avenue 5008 St. Michael Avenue 5030 St. Michael Avenue 5106 St. Michael Avenue

Street Captain Named for St. Germain Avenue Many thanks to Sue Nielsen for stepping up to serve as the

Street Captain for her neighbors on St. Germain Avenue. With

the addition of Sue, we now have coverage for all areas and

streets in Lake Conway Estates. There are, however, other types of opportunities for volunteer

service. Perhaps you have observed a particular need or situation you could help with. Volunteer!

ANNUAL MEETING RECAP The annual meeting of the Lake Conway Estates Residents’ Association was

held Thursday, September 12 in the fellowship hall at First Baptist church of Pine

Castle; it commenced shortly after 7:00 p.m. following the optional 6:00 covered dish

dinner. The presiding officer was LCERA president, Bob Buzzetti, and with the

absence of any “hot button” agenda items or any proposed Bylaw changes, the business meeting can best be

described as “quick and painless”.

A power point presentation highlighted activities and accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2018/2019.

Treasurer, Dave Sherard, reviewed the revenues and expenditures and presented the budget proposed for 2019/2020

which was approved by the membership. Following a motion from the floor, members voted unanimously to

support Belle Isle’s purchase of the Cross Lake Park lake-front parcel from the State of Florida. With no

nominations from the floor, these Executive Council officers were re-elected for another one-year term of office:

President, Bob Buzzetti; Vice President, Ken Balboni; Treasurer, Dave Sherard; Secretary, Bill Parker.

Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. Jonathan Swift

Page 4 The Crow’s Nest September-November 2019

In Belle Isle

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Late in October, all residents in Belle Isle received a large post card mailer

providing information about the 2020 Belle Isle municipal election which will take place

on Tuesday, March 17. Potential city council candidates for the Belle Isle commissioner in BI

District 1 and District 7 were required to complete and submit qualifying information to

Belle Isle City Clerk, Yolanda Quiceno, between noon Monday, November 11 and noon on

Friday, November 15.

Incumbent District 1 Commissioner, Ed Gold, was the sole District qualifier for

the March 17 election and therefore, will continue on in the position he has held since

April 2014. In District 7, however, two-term incumbent, Commissioner Sue Nielsen, will be challenged by John Evertsen. The

elected position of city commissioner is without compensation, and the term of office is three years. Commissioners must reside in

the district they represent.

The western part of Lake Conway Estates lies within District 1; the eastern part within District 7. The dividing line is St.

Marie Avenue with the west side of the street in BI District 1; the east side is BI District 7.

Residents who are not registered to vote should contact the Orange County Elections Office at (407) 836-8683 or visit the

office at 119 W. Kaley Street, Orlando 32806 to register. Qualified voters can vote in one of three ways: by mail; by participating in

early voting at designated locations; by voting at the polls on Election Day.

SOLID WASTE COLLECTION & RECYCLING PICKUP

Beginning October 1, JJ’s Waste & Recycling became the solid waste company that will be collecting the waste, recycling

and yard waste produced residentially and commercially within Belle Isle. One month into their five-year contract, JJ’s provided

some updates and changes that took place beginning November 11. A few of them are listed here:

Bundle yard waste or put loosely in garbage cans. No plastic bags for yard waste; recyclable paper bags available for

purchase at home centers are allowable.

Yard waste in plastic bags is considered contaminated and will be picked up with regular trash on Tuesday.

Recycling that is contaminated will not be picked up on Wednesday. No plastic bags in yellow-topped recycle cans.

Collection on Hoffner Avenue at 6:00 a.m. will continue for the purpose of lessening traffic backups.

Consult the Belle Isle web site at www.cityofbelleislefl.org for more detailed information. Use the Garbage link in the lower left

corner of the home page.

REGISTER YOUR SECURITY ALARM

A Belle Isle Ordinance 18-14, approved by City Council on June 5, 2019, addresses the regulation of security system

installation, maintenance, and operation. The regulations are designed to inhibit the occurrence and re-occurrence of false alarms.

Residents are required to obtain and complete an alarm installation permit. This applies to homes with existing alarm systems as well

as for residents securing new installations. For additional information visit www.cityofbelleislefl.org. Under the City News section,

select “Register Your Security Alarm” and utilize the links on the right of the page. You can also contact the BIPD at (407)240-2473

CROSS LAKE PARK

The issue of Cross Lake Beach/Park continues to sit on the back burner in the office of OC District 3 Commissioner, Myra

Uribe. With the exception of one recent cryptic communication, for several months the Commissioner and her staff have been

unresponsive to requests for information about the matter. Why?

Residents who have followed this issue will recall that the area referred to as Cross Lake Park is located in Belle Isle

District 2. It is less than a quarter of an acre of lake-front property that has been enjoyed as a passive park by near-by neighbors for

decades. The City is the upland neighbor of the parcel owned by the State of Florida and thereby has the right of first refusal

regarding sale of the property. In the spring of 2018 BI City Council decided to exercise that right and directed City Manager Francis

to pursue purchase of the property for the purpose of preserving it as a passive Belle Isle park.

After a State-required appraisal, the parcel was valued at $19,000. BI City Council authorized the expenditure. Transfer of

ownership, however, requires the approval of the entire Orange County Board of County Commissioners before Belle Isle can secure

the property from the State. Herein lies the problem. The park parcel is in BI District 2 which is in Orange County District 3, and

there the matter sits, not to be advanced by that office to OCBCC. Part of the problem appears to be the dissatisfaction of a bordering

property owner who purchased a land-locked property. The neighboring property owner is not satisfied with the area of ingress/egress

the City has proposed. Meanwhile, at such time as this purchase might advance, still another appraisal---once again at the City’s

expense---will probably be required because of the time that has lapsed, and most likely, the property’s value and cost to the City will

have increased.

HOLIDAY EVENTS The City has a wealth of activities planned. Check out the BI web site and sign up for E-Alert updates.

The Crow’s Nest September - November, 2019 Christmas Holiday Insert

LCERA Luminaria for the Holiday Season Every Christmas season, Lake Conway Estates---with help from Boy Scout

Troop No. 76--- carries on our luminaria tradition. This decades-old custom helps foster

community identity and promote neighborhood comradery.

The scouts’ assistance is mutually beneficial because it assures that our tradition continues

while providing the scouts with a fundraising opportunity. The project will help enable them to attend summer camp and purchase

necessary supplies for their camping and hiking experience.

Order taking, sale, and distribution of the luminaria are elements of a lengthy process and are the product of many hours of

planning and organizing which begin in the summer months.

Here is the scheduling information for luminary ordering and distribution for all Conway Estates residents:

Saturday, November 30 Order forms are delivered to front doors of all homes by Troop 76 Boy Scouts.

Saturday, December 7 Completed order form envelopes containing payment should be placed at your front door by

8:00 a.m. for pickup by scouts and delivery of luminaria kits.

Saturday, December 14 Second chance: By 8:00 a.m. have completed order form envelope with payment at front

door for delivery of kits.

Saturday, December 21 Third chance for procrastinators: By 8:00 a.m. have completed order form envelope with

payment at front door for delivery of kits.

The kits provided by the scouts include everything necessary to assemble the luminaria except the sand that stabilizes the bag when

a small quantity is placed in the bottom. Our resident’s Association will provide the sand, and a load will be delivered to the lake lot

on December 18. Residents can secure their sand requirements for the luminaria by visiting the lake lot with a bucket or trash can and

shovel. A good rule-of-thumb for calculating required quantity of sand for your luminaria is to figure on two cups of sand per

luminaria bag.

The small passage gate at the lake lot will be left open for access by LCERA members and non-members alike to secure sand from

the sand pile during daylight hours. Please consider helping your neighbors who may not have the ability to transport sand from the

lake lot to their home for luminaria setup.

The scouts of Troop 76 provide, for an additional fee, set-up service for those residents who would like the luminaria kits fully

assembled and placed at the curb side of their homes. The scouts are not able to return on evenings of the 24th and 25th, however, to

light the candles. Neighbors often help neighbors with candle lighting where necessary.

Each luminary kit contains 24 white bags, foil liners, cups, and 15-hour candles. The insert in the order envelope illustrates how to

assemble each luminary bag. Do-it-yourself kits are $19 per kit; full-service kits are $29 per kit.

The day of Christmas Eve the scouts of Troop 76 will gather at the lake lot to assemble pre-ordered full-service kits for set up and

delivery to homes. They will also have a limited amount of additional do-it-yourself kits for sale for those residents who decide they

under-estimated the quantity they need.

Luminaries are lit on two nights, Christmas Eve and Christmas night, respectively. Christmas Eve afternoon residents turn out to

place their luminaria curbside at their homes. When darkness falls, the luminaria are lit and allowed to burn until 10:00 p.m. when

they should be extinguished. On Christmas night the luminaria are lit at dusk and allowed to burn through the night. Often they self-

extinguish before dawn, but any still burning at day light should be extinguished.

The spent candles and bags should be collected on December 26 for disposal, but the sand can be broadcast across your lawn.